April 30, 2015 

 

Where were their parents?

Hello Church Family,

 

You may have seen the news accounts this week of the riots in Baltimore, MD. The riots began on the same day of a funeral for a twenty-five year old young adult who died after being in police custody. Tempers and tensions have been rising in Baltimore due to alleged police misconduct, but initial police reports have stated the riots were begun by high school aged youth specifically ages fourteen through sixteen. People not involved in this incident are asking: "Where were their parents?" This month was the anniversary of the Franklin Regional High School stabbings. Numerous youth were stabbed by one young man who was considered by many reports as shy, a loner, and having emotional issues. The stabbing victims as well as those who witnessed this terrible incident will have physical and mental scars for years to come. People are still asking: "Where were his parents?" I could list other accounts such as last week a student at Gateway High School committed suicide, the Columbine school massacre, and the attack at the Western Psychiatric facility. It is mind boggling to wonder how could teens and young adults be so angry or misguided to carry out those atrocities. "Where were their parents?" will always be in the minds of the victims and onlookers, I am sure.

 

Although you may be reading this and saying that will never happen to my family as my kids would never do something like that, I am sure those same parents who raised their children said the same thing. As you know social and economic backgrounds really have no boundaries from these things as the above atrocities took place in both affluent and not so affluent communities. So is it the parent(s) fault? Should they be totally blamed for their children's actions? How did they miss the warning signs or were there any warning signs to miss? It has almost become cliché that an investigation after a tragedy will normally reveal the hidden sadness or anger that the parents will acknowledge they missed. You will also hear in some of these cases that the person was a regular attendee at church and/or youth group. So should the church have been more attentive, and are they a bit to blame as well?

 

Lots of questions for sure, but what do we do? Are we doing enough to guide our youth and young adults in ways they will be confident in who they are and make wise decisions? Not that what we do as parents is 100% fool proof, but I am convinced a time spent at home sharing God's Word on a regular basis as a family and in daily prayer is indeed a foundation and protection that man himself cannot provide. Putting all our trust in the Lord will help us all think differently, live differently, and make better decisions when put into stressful situations or struggling with emotions. If we train our children to run to the Bible for comfort, to prayer for guidance, and to their parents for love instead of to social media or others who don't have God's interest at heart, then we have done what God would want us to do.

 

This Sunday is Youth Sunday where scores of our youth will be involved in greeting, ushering, reading Scripture, music, testimonies, leading prayer, and the list goes on and on. Five of our youth have completed the Confirmation journey and are now full members of MLEPC and will be introduced to the congregation. It is sure to be a wonderful time of Worship and Praise to our Heavenly Father followed by a celebration of our youth in the Well immediately after the service. Although this is sure to be a wonderful day for all our youth, it does not provide them full immunity from the temptations and dangers that await them after the service.

 

Instead of calling it Youth Sunday, lets' call this Sunday Youth & Mom/Dad Sunday. Let's make this Sunday a day we dedicate or rededicate our duty as parents to do as God tells us through Proverbs 22:6,"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

 

One of the heroes of the riot this week in Baltimore was a single mom who went and grabbed her son who was throwing rocks at the police. Her son was a foot taller than her and she ran through the hail of rocks and debris to stop him from what he was doing. Desperate times require desperate actions, but let's not wait for a crisis to react. Remember a crisis could be peer pressure, feeling alone, friend/school issues, etc. Instead of being reactive, let's make a commitment to be proactive by starting right away getting together as a family to regularly read God's Word and discuss it as a family. Let's also encourage our children to be part of Christ-centered gatherings such as Sunday school, Youth Group, Mission trips, service projects, and retreats.

 

Not sure where to start in reading the Bible together? A favorite of mine is Romans 12. Take turns reading the passages or read just one every week and discuss how we can use God's Living Word to guide us. Then finish your time in prayer, by drawing on the Holy Spirit to help you in all situations. My family had a bit of our own crisis this week, and it was Psalm 46:1, prayed together as a family and reaching out to our church family that sustained us and will always sustain us. We just needed a reminder and I guess this is mine for you.

  

See you Sunday!

Andy Hromoko

Youth Ministry Director